Police complaint for a lost or stolen mobile
To block a lost or stolen phone on every Indian network, you need a police complaint number or copy, the IMEI numbers and a working number for the OTP. Fill this letter to the Station House Officer, get it registered, then file the block request on Sanchar Saathi (CEIR).
Get a duplicate SIM of your lost number from your operator the same day.
Last updated: Reviewed by IndiaDigital editorsSources
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Opening the form…
This is a general format to save you time, not legal advice. Read every clause, change what does not fit your situation, and for a dispute or a large amount, consult a lawyer.
What is a lost or stolen mobile complaint?
A short complaint letter to the SHO of the police station that records when and where the phone was lost, stolen or snatched, with the make, model, colour, both IMEI numbers and the mobile number in it. For a theft or snatching it asks for an FIR under section 173 of the BNSS 2023; for a lost phone it asks for the complaint to be registered and a copy given.
When do you need a lost or stolen mobile complaint?
- Your phone was lost or left behind in a bus, auto, train or market.
- Your phone was stolen from your home, bag or pocket.
- Your phone was snatched on the street.
- You need a police complaint number to block the phone on CEIR or claim insurance.
Documents needed for a lost or stolen mobile complaint
- IMEI numbers from the box or bill (or dial *#06# on a phone you still have).
- A copy of the purchase bill, if you have it.
- Your identity proof, such as Aadhaar, voter ID or driving licence.
- A working mobile number for OTPs; a duplicate SIM of the lost number is usually the easiest.
How to make a lost or stolen mobile complaint: stamp paper, signing, submitting
- Fill the form with your details, the phone details and what happened. Check the IMEI numbers twice.
- Print two copies and sign them. Submit one at the police station, or use your state police website if it accepts lost article reports online.
- Get the receiving copy stamped, or note the complaint or FIR number. You are entitled to a free copy of an FIR.
- Get a duplicate SIM of the lost number from your operator.
- On sancharsaathi.gov.in, choose “Block your lost/stolen mobile” and enter the complaint number, IMEI and other details. Keep the request ID it gives you to unblock later.
- If the phone is found, tell the police and unblock it from the same portal.
Common mistakes
- Writing a wrong IMEI digit. The form checks the IMEI check digit, but compare it with the box anyway.
- Waiting days before filing. Report and block the phone quickly so it cannot be misused.
- Not getting a stamped receiving copy or a complaint number. CEIR asks for it.
- Forgetting to block UPI and banking apps. Call your bank and change your passwords from another device.
Questions people ask
Do I need an FIR to block a lost phone on CEIR?
You need a police complaint number or a copy of the complaint. For a stolen or snatched phone this is usually an FIR. For a phone that was simply lost, many states give a lost article report, often online, which is accepted.
Where do I find the IMEI number if the phone is gone?
It is printed on the phone box and usually on the purchase bill. If the phone was signed in to a Google or Apple account, the account’s device list may also show it.
Can the police refuse to take my complaint because it happened elsewhere?
Under the BNSS 2023 information about an offence can be given at any police station, whatever the place of the offence (zero FIR). The station then sends it to the right one.
What happens when I block the phone?
The IMEI is blocked on all Indian networks, so the phone cannot be used with any SIM. If someone puts in a SIM, the system can help trace it. You can unblock it from Sanchar Saathi when the phone is recovered.
Is my data safe?
Yes. The form, preview, Word and PDF are made inside your browser on this device. Nothing you type, including the IMEI and your address, is uploaded. This is a drafting aid, not legal advice.
Sources and last check
- Lost or stolen mobile: blocking through CEIR on Sanchar Saathi (verified 30 Oct 2026)
To block a lost or stolen phone on all Indian networks you need a police complaint number (or a copy of the complaint), the IMEI numbers (on the box or bill; *#06# on the phone), and a working mobile number for the OTP, usually a duplicate SIM of the lost number. Unblock from the same portal once the phone is found.
Sanchar Saathi (DoT): block your lost or stolen mobile · CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register)
- Police complaints and FIRs under the BNSS 2023 (verified 30 Oct 2026)
Since 1 July 2024 FIRs are registered under section 173 of the BNSS (it replaced section 154 CrPC). Information can be given at any police station whatever the place of the offence (zero FIR), or by electronic communication, which is taken on record once the informant signs it within three days. The informant gets a free copy of the FIR. Many state police websites accept a lost article report online; that report is often enough for duplicate documents and SIM replacement.
India Code: Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, section 173 · Ministry of Home Affairs: new criminal laws
- Official websites
Sanchar Saathi: block a lost or stolen mobile · CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register)
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